Well This Sucks - CoraLee June Page 0,28

scoffed. Nothing to contribute? “For starters, I can contribute a sense of style. This drab building needs a massive makeover. It’s dark, moody and quite honestly a bit cliché. I’m surprised you aren’t having me sleep in a fucking coffin.”

Diego’s eyebrows raised, and he went over to a panel in the wall. After pressing a button, a hideaway coffin lowered to the floor. “The bed is for vampires who know how to control their senses. You’ll learn more about that during your time in initiation and, with time, will want to sleep in one of the beds. The coffins are for fledglings who want to sleep. I’m sure you’ve noticed that you can hear everything around you.”

At the mention of it, it was like my mind became instantly aware of how busy this city was. I could hear cars driving on the street below. A couple fucking in one of the upstairs apartments. Diego’s steady breathing. In and out. In and out. “Coffins are creepy. Couldn’t you invest in a sensory deprivation tank? Or soundproofing?”

“Coffins are cheaper,” Diego replied dryly.

“Fine. I need to rest. And eat. And somehow come up with a way to work from here. Can you bring me my laptop?”

“I’ll have Rocky fetch it.”

“Great. Now if you don’t mind, I’m going to eat some of that nasty looking blood and try to cope with the fact that my new roommate is a murderous grandmother, and I’m undead.”

Drew

They left me alone for the first two days. I mainly drank blood on the hour and redecorated my makeshift dorm. I would need some help from my buddy, Amazon, if I wanted to survive Camp Dracula. Thank God for my Prime membership. Packages had been showing up outside of my dorm room in a steady stream. One maxed out credit card later, and my room—well, my half of the room anyway—looked damn decent.

They don’t sell sheets in size “coffin,” but I made it work with a full size set. One thousand thread count with a matching down comforter. The color, Pink Potpourri, popped against the black velvet in the coffin. The white fluffy throw pillows with silver accents really completed the look.

I also spruced up the room with a white decorative side table, silk orchids in white and pink, and a shattered mirror effect lamp. I was hanging some abstract artwork on the wall over the head of my coffin when Diego walked in, without knocking.

“What the fuck happened here?”

I looked around the room, proud of myself for what I had put together in such a short amount of time. “Isn’t it perfect?”

“Are you wearing actual bunny slippers?”

“Yep!” I said cheerfully. “They are crazy soft. Want me to order you a pair? I can see if they come in black.”

“You realize you’re only staying here for a few weeks, right?”

I put my hands on my hips and glared at Diego. He looked ridiculously handsome today. His jet black suit complimented his pale skin, and his black hair was slicked back. His lips were a pale shade of red, as if he’d eaten recently.

“It’s important for your living space to reflect what you want for your mental health. This moody room was not helping my transition period. I needed something cheerier. And since Rocky is pissed off at me for my little stunt, he’s refused to bring me the things I’ve asked for from my apartment. I had to get creative, but I think it works.”

I didn’t want to tell Diego that having my own space was important to me. I’d spent most of my teen years jumping from house to house, never really having a space of my own. It was why losing my apartment was so heartbreaking. I fought hard for that one bedroom mess.

“I’ll speak to Rocky,” Diego grumbled while staring at the artwork hanging over my coffin. “How are you adjusting? We have group therapy this afternoon, then coven dinner at eight. You are expected to attend. Everyone will be there, and they’re anxious to meet you.”

My stomach sank. “I’m cool with eating in my room,” I stammered. “Dinner with the entire vampire population doesn’t really sound like something I want to do.”

“You don’t really have a choice. We do this once a month. It builds camaraderie. It’s important for everyone to see who I’ve sired.”

A familiar tug in my core made me hate this relationship between us. More than anything, I wanted to please Diego. But it didn’t feel like my own wishes. It felt like